Circular-knitting machine



(No Model.) Y 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. PIKE. CIRCULAR KNITTING MAHINE. No. 423,080. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

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J W PIKE n CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

'Patented Mar. 1l, 1800.

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J. `W. PIKE, GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

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uw "www UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES WV. PIKE, OF LITTLE FALLS, NEW YORK.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,080, dated March 11, 1890. Application filed August 13, 1388. Serial No. 282,530. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. PIKE, of Little Falls,in the county of Herkimer and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Circular-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of knitting-machines which are provided with a revolving needle-cylinder, and in which the fabric is knit in the form of a circularweb or tube.

The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the cam-rings which actuate the needles, whereby the cam-rings can be readily attached and detached, and also to provide simple means whereby the camrings can be readily adjusted; also to improve the construction of the thread-guides.

The invention consists ofthe improvements which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure `1 is a vertical sectional elevation of the upper portion of aY knitting-machine provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan viewot the machine. Fig. 4. is a horizontal section in line ai, Fig. l. Fig. 5 isa vertical section of the cam-rings and their support in line 0c Q0', Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary inside elevation of the cam-rings on an enlarged scale. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of one of the adjustable standards whereby the cam-rin gs are supported. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the thread-guides.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the top or table portion of the machine supported upon legs a.

B represents the revolving needle-cylinder supported upon the table A by an annular iiange b and provided at its lower end with a downwardly-projecting` sleeve b', arranged Motion is transmitted to the pinion c and needle-cylinder B from a driving-shaft c3 by bevel-wheels c4 in the usual manner.

The cam-cylinder which surrounds the needle-cylinder B is composed of a lower ring D', which is supported upon an annularframe d, and an upper ring D, which is bolted or secured to the lower ring. rlhe rings D D are each provided on theirinncr surface with cams arranged opposite each other and forming a cam-race for the needles, the upper edge of the cam-race being formed by the cams on the upper ring D and the lower edge ot the cam-race by the cams on the lower ring D.

d represents the needles arranged between the cylinder B and the cam cylinder and which are actuated by the latter in the usual manner.

The cam-rings D D are each composed preferably of three sections e e e2 and f f f2, respectively, but a greater number of sections may be employed, if desired. The sections f f2 of the lower ring D are secured to the annular frame CZ by screws f3 and dowel-pins f4, and the sections e e e2 of the upper camring D overlap'and break joint with the sections of the lower cam-ring and are secured to the latter by screws e3 and dowel-pins e4. The meeting edges of thesey sections are cut obliquely, so as to cause the edges to overlap each other, and thereby prevent the needlejacks. from working into these joints and cause the parts to bind or break.

By constructing the cam-cylinder in sections the operator is enabled to readily replace a broken cam or a needle-jack or to substitute tuck for plain cams by simply removing one or more of the sections of one or both of the cam-rings, as may be required, without 'removing or raising the entire camcylinder.

G represents posts or standards, upon. which the annular frame d is supported by arms g, having sleeves g', which fit snugly over the posts G, and which can be adjusted vertically thereon by nuts g2, applied to the threaded portion of the standards. The posts G are secured with their lower ends to the table A. Each sleeve g is provided with a depending flat spring g3, secured to the sleeve g and having a tooth g4, which engages in anotched rim g5, formed on the nut g2. The springs g3 IOO serve as gages when the nuts g2 are turned for adjusting the cam-rings, and also lock the nuts g2 after the parts are adjusted. This construct-ion permits of a very fine and uniform vertical adjustment of the frame d on all of its supports without gaging or calipering the part-s from the table to the frame d, as heretofore practiced. The same vertical adjustment is readily effected on each post by turning each nut to the extent of the same number of notches.

H represents an annular frame which supports the thread-guides and encircles the npper portion of the needle -cylinder B, and which is composed, preferably, of three sections H H2 H3. cured to the uppercam-ringD by screws h,pass ing through vertically-elongated openings h', formed in brackets h2, so as to be vertically adjustable. Two of the brackets h2 are preferably secured to each section of the supporting-frame H, and each section of the frameH is securedbythesebrackets to a corresponding section of the upper cam-ring D, so that it can be removed with the same.

Each section of the supporting-frame H is provided with a series or group of threadguides I, which encircle the upper ends of the needles d. Fig. 3 of the drawings shows the group of these guides attached to the section H2, While those of the sections H H3 are omit-- ted.

As clearly shown in Fig. 8of the drawings, each thread-guide I consists of a standard t', secured to the supporting-frame H by a Vertical screw-bolt i', and a radial guide-plate ft2, secured to the upper end of the standard@ by a thumb-screw is, passing through an elongated opening t'4, formed in the guide-plate t5 t represent openings formed in the arms i7 8 of the guide-plate t2, and through which the thread passes to the needles. It will thus be seen that all of the thread-guides I, arranged upon one of the sections of the supporting-frame H, can be simultaneously adjusted by means of the brackets h2, thereby facilitating the uniform adjustment of the guides. The inner arm t7 of each guide-plate 2 can be adjusted vertically and radially toward and from the needles CZ by means of the thumb-screw 3 and slot 4, as well as laterally by swinging the standard on its screwbolt i. By this construction a great saving of time is effected in adjusting the threadguides, as it is not necessary to bend or twist the guides, as in the case with guides formed in one piece.

I claim as my inventionvl. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and a supporting-frame surrounding said cylinder, of a cam-cylinder composed of a The sections H H2 H3 are se ported independently of the others, and' thread-guides attached to said ring-sections, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and a cam-ring surrounding the same, of an annular frame surrounding the needle-cylinder, means whereby said frame is made vertically adjustable on said cam-ring, and thread-guides secured to said annular frame, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the needle-cylinder and a cam-ring surrounding the same, of an annular frame surrounding said needlecylinder and'composed of a number of independent sections, means whereby each of said sections is made separately adjustable on said cam-ring, and t-hread-guides secured to each section, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the needle-cylinder, an annular frame surrounding said cylinder and composed of a number of sections, and thread-guides secured to said sections, of a cam-ring also surrounding said cylinder and composed of a similar number of sections, each of which cam-sections carries one of the sections of said supporting-frame, substantially as set forth.

(i. The combination, with the needle-cylinderand the annular supporting-frame H, composed of several independent sections, of brackets h2, secured to the frame H and provided with vertically-elongated openings, a cam-ring D, composed of a similar number of sections, and screws h, whereby the brackets h2 are adjustably secured to the sections of the cam-ring, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with a needle-cylinder and a thread-guide-supporting frame, of a standard t, pivoted to the supporting-frame by a vertical screw-bolt, and 'a radial guideplate i2, having thread-openings and adj ustably secured to said standard by a thumb-screw 3 and slot t4, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 7th day of August, 1888.

JAMES WV. PIKE.

Witnesses:

J. W. SHERMAN, JOHN RoAcH.

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